Scott Sportech Poland has been fined by the Polish competition authority for restricting its dealers from selling bicycles online for nearly a decade. This practice limited competition among sellers and hindered consumers' ability to find better and cheaper offers.

The president of the Polish competition authority, Tomasz Chróstny, highlighted a hypothetical scenario where a cyclist was unable to purchase a desired bicycle online due to Scott Sportech's rules, which mandated in-person purchases at physical stores. This requirement forced customers to travel long distances, making the buying process impractical and costly.

Scott Sportech's restrictions were enforced through distribution agreements that, while not explicitly banning online sales, required dealers to deliver fully assembled bicycles in person and prohibited sales through platforms like Allegro or eBay. This effectively stifled online competition and kept prices artificially high.

As a result of these practices, consumers faced limited access to competitive pricing and product offerings, leading to a less convenient and more expensive shopping experience. The Polish competition authority concluded that Scott Sportech violated both Polish and EU laws by restricting competition and making it difficult for customers to access products.

The company has been fined 4,340,394 PLN, although this decision is not yet final and can be appealed. This case is part of a broader effort by the Polish competition authority to eliminate unfair practices in the bicycle market, including ongoing investigations into other companies like Merida Polska and Kellys.